Bottle carrying case or the like



Feb. 13, 1968 J. B. WALLER BOTTLE CARRYING CASE OR THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 28, 1966 INVENTIOR JOSEPH B. WALLE'I? B) ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1968 J. B. WALLER BOTTLE CARRYING CASE OR THE LIKE Fi led Feb. 28, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR JOSEPH 8. WALLER fiyfid/w ATTORNEYS Feb. 13, 1968 J, B. WALLER 3,368,709

BOTTLE CARRYING CASE OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 28, 1966 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 11 I l MN i: 1". 2/ 3 i 2/ 3/ 5? 25 Hyzs 25 il/ ,l [1774/] 4j Jji l/l I I 32 dd u f 32 1M /3 \F 2 2 ll I/VVENTOR v JOSEPH B. WALLER B ZQMW v ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,368,709 BOTTLE CARRYENG CASE GK THE LIKE Joseph B. Waller, 2920 The Alemada, Baltimore, Md. 21218 Fiied Feb. 28, 1966, Ser. No. 530,666 4 Claims. (Cl. 220-21) ABSTRAQT 0F THE DISCLOSURE The structure includes a main bottom member having received thereon and attached thereto a separable unitary member with a transversely extending partition member or members. The main or bottom member has an elongated base portion with upstanding oppositely disposed ends having hand grasp openings therein and joining the ends are oppositely disposed sides extending up vertically less than the height of the ends. The ends of the main member have inwardly extending portions at each end thereof with the lower portion thereof joining with the longitudinal sides of the main member while the upper portion of the inwardly extending portions terminate in a joint portion to receive a joint portion on the separable unitary member. This separable unitary member has longitudinal sides between which extend transversely the partition or partitions and these longitudinal sides have joint portions thatfit the joint portions of the main or bottom member.

This invention is directed to improvements in bottle carrying cases utilizing an integrally molded unitary type of construction.

It is an object of the invention to provide a relatively lightweight yet sturdy, longlife bottle carrying case.

Another object of the invention is to provide a molded carrying case made up of a main portion and a unitary set of partition members received by the main portion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a molded carrying case that has provision for easy stacking and handling so as to prevent slippage of one case over another when stacked.

An additional feature of the invention is to provide a molded carrying case of plastic material that is durable, sanitary and has low upkeep costs.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrying case that is safe to handle without having splinters enter the hand when the case is grasped.

Yet a still further object of the invention is to provide a well balanced in weight distribution bottle carrying case, that may be in empty condition easily carried and swung from one hand and stacked in an empty condition in a one hand operation.

Still further objects and the entire scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent in the detailed description given hereinafter. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific example is given by way of illustration only, and, while indicating a preferred embodiment of the invention, is not given by way of limitation, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of the invention reference may be had to the drawings, the specification and the claims which follow.

FIG. 1 is a perspective, exploded view of the bottle carrying case;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the carrying case;

FIG. 3 is a sectional View along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the carrying case in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the carrying case;

3,368,769 Patented Feb. 13, 1968 FIG. 6 is a sectional view along lines 66 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing the nesting or stacking of one case upon another as respects the non-sliding feature.

Throughout the description like reference numbers refer to similar parts.

The bottle carrying case is generally indicated at 10, see FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, and comprises a main member 11 in which is received a unitary set of partition members 12.

The main member 11 has a bottom or floor 13 and in the form shown is rectangular and hasends 14-14. The ends 14 have outwardly extending transverse upper ends 15 with a cutaway portion 16 in the upright portion and a cutaway portion 17 in the horizontal portion 15 which join together to form an aperture to receive the fingers of the grasping hand to carry the case. Each end 14 has an inwardly extending endportion 18 transverse thereto, all of which is provided with a contoured arcnate interior. These portions 18 as their inner ends have a recessed vertically extending outwardly opening joint portion 19 to receive the unitary set of partition members 12 hereinafter explained in more detail. Each end has a rounded inner periphery at 20 which receives the bottom of the next case stacked thereabove which is also hereinafter explained in more detail.

To provide more strength to the unitary molded construction of suitable plastic material there is provided fillets 21 between the bottom 13 and the ends 14. These spaced apart fillets 21 taken together with the inwardly extending end portions 18 provide stifiening for the case.

The main member 11 has spaced apart longitudinal sides 22 adjoining the inwardly extending end portions 18 of ends 14 in a unitary manner. The height of the sides 22 is about one-half that of the .whole case.

tures 24- therethrough which are suitably spaced apart. Also there is integrally formed with the bottom 13 upstanding support members 25. These support members 25 are frustoconical in shape with their smaller ends towards the top and of a height slightly greater than onehalf the height of the carrying case so that they protrude up above the upper edge of the longitudinal sides 22. These supports are in line with the partition portions 28 of the unitary set of portion members 12 and are hollow to receive screws 33 which extend up through the bottom 13 to secure the partition portion 12. The supports 25 adjacentthe longitudinal sides 22 are formed integral therewith as is shown in FIG. 1. This construction adds rigidity to the sides and the supports serve to transfer the weight of one case to another in stacked relation whether empty or carrying bottles.

The lower surface, the bottom members 13, see FIG. 5 has recesses 13a therein which receive the tops of bottles and prevent slippage. Thus, in the stacked relation of one case of bottles on another the weight is supported down through the bottles as viewed in FIGS. 6 and 7.

The unitary set of partition members 12 has longitudinal sides 27 and integrally spaced apart transverse partition portions 28. These transverse partitions have arcnate recesses 30 formed therein or cutout portions 30 to receive the bottles. The ends of the longitudinal portions 27 of the unitary partition members have matching vertically extending joint portions 29 to be received by the joint portions 19 in the main body. These joints may be sealed in place by suitable adhesive and they 'may have suitable rivets afiixed therein. The transverse portions 28 have in their bottom surface recesses 28a, see FIG. 3, to receive the upper extending ends of the supports 25. Suitable screws 33 which are self tapping extend up a through the bottom 13 through suitable apertures therein, through the aperture in the supports 25 and on into a lead hole in the partition portions 28. This makes a tight joint and yet provides for removal and replacement of the unitary set 12 of partition members. The upper ends of the individual partition portions 28 are rounded over in a smooth manner at 28b so that they may be easily cleaned and so that no sharp edges are presented.

Referring again to the main member 11, there is an integrally molded peripherial bumper or lower lip 31 adjacent its bottom and it has formed therein an inwardly extending recess 32, see FIG. 7. The upper edge of the partition member 12 at the longitudinal sides 27 has a bead or lip 27a which is rounded, see FIG. 7, so that it fits in a stacked relation into the recess 32 in the lower lip 31 on a case stacked thereabove. The ends 14 at their upper portions have a rounded periphery that is in alignment with the bead 27a so that uninterrupted support is provided for the case stacked thereabove.

These bottle carrying cases, according to this invention are easily maintained. The unitary set of partition members that is molded in one piece may be removed and replaced should they become injured. In case the main body 11 becomes injured or broken, it may be removed and replaced.

The plastic material used in the molding of my bottle carrying case or the like may be a high impact-strength synthetic resin, such as linear polyethylene. This type of bottle carrying case will withstand hard usage and may be easily and safely sterilized.

I claim as my invention:

1. A carrying case for bottles and the like comprising in combination, a main member and a separable unitary set of partition members terminating at their ends in joint said main member comprising an elongated base portion having upstanding oppositely disposed ends with hand grasp means therein, oppositely disposed sides joining integrally with the ends and extending vertically about half the height of the case; said unitary set of partition members having longitudinal sides received on said sides of the main member and transverse spaced apart partition portions integrally connecting said longitudinal sides; and fastening means connecting said separable partition member to said main member, wherein said ends of the main member have inwardly extending portions at each end thereof having the lower portion thereof joining with said longitudinal sides and the upper portion terminating in a joint portion, said longitudinal sides of the unitary set of partition members terminating at their ends in joint portions for receipt by said joint portions on the ends of the main member for secureme-nt thereto.

2. A carrying case for bottles and the like comprising in combination, a main member and a separable unitary partition member received by the main member; said main member comprising an elongated base portion having upstanding oppositely disposed ends with hand grasp means therein, oppositely disposed sides joining integrally with the ends and extending vertically less than the height of the ends, said ends having inwardly extending portions at each end thereof having the lower portion thereof joining with said longitudinal sides and the upper portion terminating in a joint portion; said unitary partition member having longitudinal sides received on said sides of the main member and having end joint portions fitting said joint portions on the main member and at least one partition member extending transversely between and integrally connecting said longitudinal sides; and fastening means connecting said separable partition member to said main member.

3. A carrying case for bottles and the like comprising in combination, a main member and a separable unitary partition member received by the main member; said main member comprising an elongated base portion having longitudinally extending sides and upstanding oppositely disposed ends with their upper end extending transversely outwardly from each end and openings joining together are formed in the upper portion of the upstanding portion of the ends and their outwardly extending transverse portion whereby a hand grasp aperture is provided in each end; said unitary partition member having longitudinal oppositely disposed sides received on the top of the sides of the main member and at least one partition member extending transversely between said sides of the unitary partition member; and fastening means connecting said unitary partition member to said main member.

4. A carrying case according to claim 3 wherein the separable unitary partition member has a plurality of spaced apart partition members joining at their ends with the oppositely disposed longitudinal sides of the unitary partition member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,256 6/1958 Cobb 22021 3,106,308 10/1963 Kazimier 22021 3,186,586 6/1965 Box 220-21 3,252,532 5/1966 Kesilman et a1. 220-21 3,272,378 9/1966 Weber 2202l 3,283,915 11/1966 Maslow 22022 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

